VATICAN CITY — In a move marking a significant moment of spiritual renewal, Pope Leo XIV has officially proclaimed a Franciscan Jubilee Year in honor of the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. The “Special Year of St. Francis” commenced on January 10 and will extend as a time of grace until January 2027.
The Holy See’s Apostolic Penitentiary issued the formal decree inaugurating the jubilee, which it describes as “a gift for the entire Church.” Central to the announcement is the granting of a plenary indulgence—a full remission of the temporal punishment due to sin—for the faithful who fulfill specific, accessible conditions.
“This Year of St. Francis spurs all of us… to imitate the poor man of Assisi, to form ourselves… on the model of Christ,” the decree states. It positions the jubilee as a direct response to a world where “the virtual takes over the real, disagreements and social violence are part of everyday life, and peace becomes more insecure and distant every day.”
How to Obtain the Jubilee Indulgence
The pathways to receive the plenary indulgence are designed to be inclusive. Until January 10, 2025, the faithful can obtain it under the standard conditions: reception of the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist, and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
In addition, one of the following acts is required:
- For Pilgrims: A visit to any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis anywhere in the world.
- For the Homebound: The decree makes special provision for the elderly, the sick, and those who cannot leave home due to serious reasons. They may obtain the indulgence by spiritually uniting themselves to the jubilee celebrations and offering their “prayers, pains, or sufferings to God.”
A Timely Call for Peace and Reconciliation
In a personal letter addressed to the ministers general of the Franciscan Family, Pope Leo XIV framed the jubilee as a crucial spiritual intervention for the modern era.
Highlighting our time as one “marked by so many seemingly endless wars, by internal and social divisions that create distrust and fear,” the Pope emphasized that St. Francis “continues to speak.”
“Not because he offers technical solutions,” Pope Leo XIV clarified, “but because his life points to the authentic source of peace.”
The pontiff drew a direct line from the saint’s legacy to contemporary crises, noting that Francis reminds the world that “peace with God, peace among people, and peace with creation are inseparable dimensions of a single call to universal reconciliation.”
A Jubilee for the Whole Church
While a monumental event for the Order of Friars Minor, the jubilee is emphatically directed at all the faithful. The decree encourages Catholics everywhere to use this period to become “models of holiness of life and constant witnesses of peace,” following the Franciscan example.
The announcement has been met with anticipation in Catholic communities globally, many of which are home to Franciscan parishes, shrines, and ministries. Dioceses are expected to provide local guidance and schedule special events to facilitate participation in the yearlong observance.
The Franciscan Jubilee Year stands as an open invitation from the Vatican: an 800-year-old message of poverty, peace, and reconciliation offered anew as a remedy for a fractured 21st-century world.
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